SUNBURY - Northumberland County commissioners agreed Tuesday to research a recommendation to help revitalize deteriorated properties by developing a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) program that would grant a tax incentive to improve properties within an area designated for revitalization.
Commissioner Stephen Bridy said if improvements are made to industrial, commercial and other business properties by owners, those properties would not be reassessed for up to 10 years, meaning the owners would pay real estate taxes at the rate the properties were assessed prior to renovations.
"This would give business owners some incentive to reinvest in their properties," he said.
The commissioners also agreed to review a similar recommendation by Bridy to implement a business incentive grant (BIG) program that would reduce taxes for business owners over a 10-year period if they generate jobs at their businesses.
Other business
The board authorized Children & Youth Services to purchase a 2013 Ford Escape for $24,700 from Sunbury Motors through the Costars Piggyback Program.
Commissioners transferred up to $2,500 from the general fund to the county industrial development authority to supplement the authority's operational expenses in bringing industry to the county this year.
The board adopted a resolution approving the annual funding of $5,263 for the Mount Carmel Borough/Lower Anthracite Transportation System (LATS).